Alabama man, 61, charged with sexual abuse

A Dawson, Ala., man is accused of sexually abusing two girls under the age of 12, police said.

Clarence Hale, 61, was charged with one count of first-degree sexual abuse. Another count will go before the DeKalb County grand jury at its next meeting, Sheriff Jimmy Harris said in a news release.

The sheriff's office received a report Sunday that a person had committed inappropriate acts with the girls. They were interviewed on Monday, and information from the interview and subsequent investigation led to Hale's arrest, Harris said.

Hale apparently has been an acquaintance of the victims' family for several years, and the acts are alleged to have occurred at his residence, Harris said.

In 1995, Hale was convicted of three counts of sodomy. The victims in that case also were girls under 12. Hale also may face charges stemming from Community Notification Act violations, Harris said.